Hostage Drama

US embassy condemns Manila hostage-taking

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 08/24/2010 2:31 AM | Updated as of 08/24/2010 2:31 AM

MANILA,Philippines - The US embassy in Manila on Monday condemned the hostage-taking incident in Rizal Park that left 8 Hong Kong tourists dead.

In a statement issued by embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson, the US government said it "joins many others in condemning the actions of an alleged former Philippine National Police officer who took innocent tourists hostages in an effort to redress a professional grievance."

The US embassy said that although the incident was not the "act of any terrorist organization,...the reported loss of innocent lives is nonetheless reprehensible and saddens us all."

US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. said: "Throughout this long day, our thoughts and prayers have been with the hostages held on a tour bus by an individual alleged to be a former member of the Philippine National Police. On behalf of my American and Filipino colleagues at the US Embassy, I offer my heartfelt condolonces to the victims if this horrific incident. We condemn this heinous act; there is no justification for harming innocent people."

This is the bus which was Hostaged yesterday:

August 23, 2010

Stupid Hostage Drama....

It destroys the Philippine's good name. The heck!

My cousin even said, "PALITAN ANG PULIS!!! NINJA NA LANG!!!"

I second the motion!!!

the heck, everybody were threatened by one single person only... I don't know how the police or "swat-swatan" (as they say) couldn't get him. The rescue operation turned out lame. :(

so now:

THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM IS ALREADY DEAD!!!!

BTW, I found an article in Facebook, it's from the profile of Mai Lateo, here it goes:

Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands. The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get everyone's attention. Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head. Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate. I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth. Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally admits his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive - for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang.I know I will survive, I will come home.

Bang Lu Min Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath

I was thinking.... How can you justify what was really done right?? How can you justify that he was a good person, if he had committed a serious crime in the first place? I am not condemning Mr. Mendoza, however, what he did destroyed the name of our country and severed friendship against another nation. How good can that be? If he wanted to get even, he should have done something else... and not like this.

And...

Here is another thing which I saw in the net: http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/index.htm

The Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) System aims to help people better understand the risk or threat to personal safety in travelling to 60 countries that are the more popular travel destinations for Hong Kong residents (HKRs). When there are signs of threat in a place that may affect the personal safety of HKRs, the Security Bureau will assess and consider the need to issue an OTA taking into account factors such as the nature (e.g. whether it is targeted at travellers), level and duration of the threat. OTA currently in force: OTA Countries (Click country below for supplementary information) Severe threat Avoid all travel Philippines Significant threat Adjust travel plans Avoid non-essential travel Nil Signs of threat Monitor situation Exercise caution Indonesia Iran Nepal Pakistan Russia Thailand Ok.... so the Philippines is already black listed.... PHILIPPINES IS CONSIDERED AS SEVERE THREAT AND AVOID ALL TRAVEL. SO BAD!!!! :(

A/N: 3

忘れないように！

(Don't Forget)

殺すために...キャプテン藍染。恥じることなく彼を殺すために。

(to kill... Captain Aizen. To kill him without shame.)

Aizen thinks he's god.

...

BUT LET'S ALL PROVE HIM WRONG!!!

してください。 私たちのすべてのサポートをしてみましょう:

(Please. Let us all support:)

(sponsored and headed by Ulquiorra and Grimjow)

>xD

させてください無駄にジューシーちゃん泣く...

(please don't let Juicy-chan cry in vain...)

‎"No one remembers the day they were born, all they can do is believe in the day given to them by those they trust. It isn't a problem whether it is true or not. I think knowing your birthday is to be happy."
--Aizen (Bleach musical)

A good quote from a bad villain...

GinRan

GIN CAN'T DIE!!!

NO HE SHOULDN'T DIE!!!

HE IS ONE OF THE AWESOMEST, SEXIEST, CHARACTER IN BLEACH!!!

WHY SHOULD KUBO KILL HIM??

NO!!!!!

KILL AIZEN!!!

(AIZEN IS A COCKROACH... HE CAN'T BE KILLED AND HE COULD STILL SURVIVE FOR DAYS EVEN WITH HIS HEAD OFF!!!)

ok... I am starting to get so over-emotional again....

DON'T YOU EVER READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILER OR IF YOU HAVEN'T READ BLEACH 416 YET...

Yes people!!! Ichimaru Gin as finally put into action his plan of destroying Aizen in a close range. However, He wasn't able to anticipate Aizen seeing through him and treating him like a tool.

And yep... its finally confirmed that there is something between Matsumoto and Gin.

And that, when Gin is acting traitorous around Matsumoto, REMEMBER: everything is just an ACT!!!

So for now...

As Aizen slashed Ichimaru... and as he fell to the concrete, it was revealed that he cared deeply for Rangiku...

and everything that he did, he did it for her...

"I've decided, I'm going to be a Shinigami...

Become Shinigami and change things, so that they'll end...

without Rangiku having to cry..."

--Ichimaru Gin

Please don't die on me GIN!!!!

(Juicy-chan goes crazy!!!)

If you wanted to read the chapter...

here it is: Bleach 416

http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/45759918/1

But, I tell you to be quick... it might be gone if you delay reading it for 4 weeks at the most.

GINRAN 4EVER!!! <3

Hagonoy Inferno

A news clip about the Hagonoy fire which happened on the eve of August 18, 2010.

From gmanews.tv

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/65022/ub-fire-razes-hagonoy-market-in-bulacan

This news article was taken from ABSCBNnews.com

Fire guts public market in Hagonoy

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 08/19/2010 8:31 AM | Updated as of 08/19/2010 9:10 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Fire razed the public market in Hagonoy, Bulacan Wednesday night, destroying an estimated P15 million-P20 million worth of property and affecting the livelihoods of 300 market vendors.

Fire officials said the fire started at 7:30 p.m. and quickly razed a large portion of the market. It also destroyed 5 houses near the market.

Fire Superintendent Absalon Sipadan, chief of the Hagonoy fire department, said the fire had reached the second alarm by 8 p.m. after local firemen could not contain the blaze. He said the local fire department has only 2 fire trucks, both of which are already old.

He said fire trucks from neighboring towns arrived to help put out the fire.

Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said the public market has been in place for the past 25 years.

Firefighters have yet to determine what started the fire.

If you wanted some additional videos... you can visit my profile's links in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lizbeth.perlas?v=app_2309869772

This photo is a courtesy from my childhood friend who lived near the area.

The building that you see unaffected is our Botica and Clinic.

We were relieved to see that none of our property was caught on fire.

CALOOCAN, AUGUST 18, 2010, 8:45 PM

As usual I was going home late from school, when I saw my papa and Ate Tina (our helper) hastily going out of the house and going straight to the car. Without much of a question, they just randomly said... "The market is on fire..."

I stopped. What market?

"The market in Hagonoy was on fire," my papa said

"How did you know?"

"Mother called-up," Ate Tina said.

"Does fire often happen in there?" My grandma said out of the blue, butting-in our small conversation as always.

"Yes," papa said.

"No." I emphasized, contradicting my father. "It only happened now," I don't know why they would always say that Hagonoy was a terrible place. Was it? I guess not. I grew up there, and therefore knew every corner of that little town, I even know the people living there, I just don't like their accusing tones that it is a bad place. I just hate hate them for saying and thinking such things. A lowly province, that's what they usually say.

When my father was heading out, My grandma was worried for his safety. I wished him to take care of himself and avoid trouble. And for a moment there, I suddenly felt tinge of envy in my heart, like I wanted to tell my papa seeing how worried grandma is... It's a good thing your mother is alive, mine isn't anymore.

I tried not to think about it that night. That's my way dealing with stress. Before I went to bed, I just uttered my prayers, begging God to never harm anybody and keep everyone safe.

CALOOCAN, AUGUST 19, 2010, 8:OO AM

I woke up, papa and ate Tina returned early in the morning. the television was on, and the news about the fire was being reported, somehow, a part of me didn't dare to watch. Papa heated a cheeseburger for me when I reached the dining room. and while I ate my breakfast, he started to talk about last night's events. By the tone of his voice, he was like a little boy telling his mother a story. I listened with little interest, maybe because of my anxiety levels coming up. Drinking some hot chocolate, there were lots of things that I wanted to ask him.

He kept mentioning a lot of people, I know them, but they aren't the people whom I want to know. I wanted to ask "How's Pappy??" "Is he safe??" "Did you see him?" "Was he there fighting along side the firemen?" "Did you talk?" "I know he should be there, because the botica might be on fire too..."

Pappy is my grandfather from my mother's side. After my mother died, papa seem to have cut all the ties we had with my mother's relatives, and even moved us to the city. And it has been years since I haven't come home.

After mustering up courage, I asked him. "Did you see Pappy?"

He looked away from me or rather I looked away from him when he answered "I didn't see him"

Impossible.

It was only through ate Tina that I knew when I asked her the same question. She replied "He was there, trying to protect the botica..."

"Is he alright?"

"Yes he is..."

I am relieved.

I opened up Facebook, and saw various videos on my homepage. Then I saw Reizelle and Robin's post about the fire that happened last night. So I happened to watched one video and watched in horror the flames which engulfed the whole market place. I shared the video, until my childhood friend saw my post and commented "muntikan nga talaga kayo" (you were really close)

I chatted him online, and then he told me about the recent events. Israel's house stood in front of a wide river which separated their house and the burning public market. He recalled that he was sitting at the roof of their house when the incident happened. The wind was blowing towards their direction so the atmosphere is really hot. It was really like hell.

In the video he showed me, the whole town is noisy, there were sirens everywhere, but what sent chills to me was the sound of the bells from sta. Ana's shrine. For me, the bell symbolizes the voice of our town. Growing up in the area, the bells would always ring with every occasion it witnesses. It's tone varies from happy to sad. This time, it's tone was alarming. It was like st. Anne herself crying for help towards the heavens.

After catching up with him (lol, we haven't talked for years until now), I told him that I wanted to come back home. its been a year since I haven't come back, but still, I still long for the days to come back and visit the place I grew up. I told him "wala na, sira na ung playground ko nung bata pa ako" (my playground is already destroyed) and he just agreed with me.

After that, I tried to call Pappy before I went to school yesterday. When I heard his voice, also Mommy's (my grandmother from mother's side) I almost cried in relief. I was fighting my tears from relief that they are safe. I was like Thank God! Nothing happened to you!!!

"How are you?" I asked eagerly.

"We're fine" Mommy answered.

"Where are you?"

"In the botika..."

"Was it destroyed?"

"No, except for a few broken windows and glass... your papa went here last night, didn't he?"

"he did," I answered "Papa said that the clinic didn't get destroyed, it was as if, mama was protecting it,"

"Bittle!" mommy exclaimed "please come home! we already miss you."

"I wan't to, but I can't right now... " I glanced at the clock, only 10 minutes and classes will start. "I need to go to school, please do take care of yourself. I love you both."

and with that I hung up, checked my balance... Oh... only 5.50 remained...

Aww...

At least they are safe.

True Love Waits

I was browsing my home page in facebook this morning, when I came across a friend's post. It is about a girl's letter awaiting for her "true Love". And to be honest, the letter is sweet. It may not be perfect or ideal, but the very thought of it, is very mushy indeed.

These letters are from The Philippine Daily Inquirer. :)

My daughter’s letter to the man she will love someday-By Cathy Babao-Guballa

As a woman, you spend hours pondering—alone or with your girl friends—the intricacies of the human heart. You always hope and pray that the next generation will get it better than you did. Below is a letter I found in my daughter’s website (I have her permission to share this). She wrote it to “the man I will someday love.” I was expecting to read a gushing, romantic, idealistic tome. I was humbled instead by her sentiments. It’s filled with sensible expectations. I pray that this will make every girl believe that hope does spring eternal, and even if your heart has been broken a few times, you can always put the pieces back together, and make it right the next time around. Take your time. Don’t rush and don’t just “settle.” If it’s part of His plan, God’s best awaits you out there.

----------------

this is the girl's letter

Dear You,

I will admit that sometimes I really do wonder if you exist. There is a part of every little girl’s heart that envisions her prince charming. At age three, it is usually of a man who can save her from the wrath of an evil stepmother, wake her from eternal slumber or give her that true love’s kiss. In elementary school, he becomes the boy with the least cooties, the one who’s willing to cross the playground to share his Oreos even if it makes him a target for the week of all the other boys. Come high school, it’s that boy you stand with at prom, who your father stared down at the door, who provided you with an experience complete with photos you will cringe at a decade later, a corsage that yellows in the refrigerator, and a faded memory of a night that seemed almost too magical to be real. Nineteen years into this life, however, and still unwilling to give my heart away, I am still that same little girl who hopes for her prince charming. And although I wonder why it has taken you this long to sweep me off my feet and whisk me off to your palace on horseback, I know that it is probably because meeting you will be better than any fairytale I could’ve read as a kid. A couple of heartbreaks and a few years wiser though, I will admit that there are times when I question your existence. Because I have yet to meet the guy who makes me hear songs like “All My Life” or “A Whole New World” in my head when I see him does not mean I don’t hope that it’ll ever happen. I may already know you or may still meet you someday—something I leave completely up to God because I’m pretty sure our story will be epic. However, I can’t promise you that I’d make the world’s most perfect princess. In fact I’ll probably keep you on your toes and amuse you with my eccentricities—there are a lot of them. I’ll probably steal a bunch of your T-shirts and turn them into shirt dresses, or drive you slightly mad with my obsessive compulsivity and my need to fix your collar constantly. I can promise to be your best friend however—that person you can rant to after a rough day, the hand you can hold when you get sad, or the person you can text when situations get awkward. I’ll probably mess up your hair sometimes and hug you for too long, but that’ll only be because I absolutely adore you. I’ll bury my head in your shoulder during scary movies and make you feel like superman when you kill those flying cockroaches that really shouldn’t exist. I’ll cook your favorite food on your birthday and try my best to make friends with your mom. I’ll respect your nights-out with the boys and make you seem like the perfect guy to my barkada. I’ll watch basketball or soccer games with you, and not complain when you cheer too loudly at the TV set. I’ll know the difference between giving you space and being constantly there for you—even if it means sitting and playing video games with you or taking hot chocolate runs when it rains. I’ll listen to your music and we’ll go on epic adventures together—seeing the world, taking awesome pictures, eating awesome food, and never running out of things to tell each other along the way. I won’t be waiting for you to sweep me off my feet and take me on a magic carpet ride, because I know I won’t need anything like that to fall for you—I will love you for you. You will be that someone to make goofy faces with in pictures, to lace fingers with when I’m lonely, and to take long walks under the stars with on the beach. You’ll be the guy who takes me the way I am—and will laugh as I burst into Disney song or pick out pink wallpaper. You’ll be that someone I envision a future with—us filling out visa forms as we travel the universe, picking out our first dog together and arguing about what to name it, or being snap-happy stage parents in our preschooler’s annual mini-plays. And I keep hoping that maybe someday when we find each other, you will become that someone whose smile I wake up to in the morning and the last one I speak to every night. So to the man I know does exist, and who will help me maybe make sense of the world someday, this man I can’t wait to love. Please know that I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. But for now, I wait. Fingers crossed and palms held together, I hope that you’re out there somewhere, waiting for me, too. With the hope I will be yours for always,

-Me

KILIG MUCH? :) May nagreply na guy sa letter na to. Hold on to your seats. Super nakakakkilig!!! :)

And now, a young man responds-By Cathy Babao-Guballa

My daughter’s letter

Dear readers, I never expected that so many of you would find yourselves in a simple letter I wrote one night when I was most vulnerable, where in retrospect I realize now were just echoes of the little dreams my heart carried. While I study to become a doctor someday, I know my focus should be on the literal intricacies of the human heart as opposed to what it feels. However, I find nothing wrong in hoping to meet that someone who’ll make it skip a beat. To hope for love isn’t a bad thing, as long as you continue to live your life to the full while waiting for God’s best. As one wise reader wrote—it could be that “God is still preparing you both for that right moment.” Meanwhile, we can learn, experience, and become happy with the things we do have in our lives today before that time comes, because after all, happiness never does depend on a single person. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories of waiting and finding true love and to all the young people who appreciate the concept of not settling for just anyone but waiting for that someone. It is nice to know that there are others out there who still hope and pray for the right kind of love. Two nights after the letter was published, I received this in my personal mail—an anonymous response to my letter. I want to share it with you all—a letter written by a man any girl would love to fall in love with someday.-Pia

-----------

this is the guy's letter

Dear You,

I will admit that it came as a surprise to me when you decided to write a letter such as this. I always thought you were the type to keep things to yourself—one of the many things that keep us apart until now. There is a part of every boy’s heart that dreams of his princess. However, no matter what the age, this princess does not change. Nineteen years into this life, and although your unwillingness to give your heart away is what troubles you, what troubles me is how willing I am each and every time to give my complete heart and yet there is no one to receive anything of me. Try as I might to give my heart to someone I had imagined was perfect, and I end up putting the pieces back together, mustering the courage to make it seems like nothing is wrong and nothing has been lost, when in fact, everything in my life at that point feels otherwise. Although I have only known you for a few years, I am as confident as a man in love can be, that you are the perfect girl I have been thinking of ever since. Nineteen years into this life, and we are both still apparently waiting… for someone to be swept off her feet, and for someone to sweep you off yours. And yet, here we are closer to each other than you would expect. I am sorry I took this long. But, I hope you know, it has not been entirely easy, trying to whisk you off to my palace on horseback. I am not alone in this pursuit of your love and I have no palace to show you in comparison to the many other men who will try to win your heart. You have not been entirely cooperative as well, but I do not blame you for this. In fact, it’s just one of the many quirks that sets you apart from other girls out there. You will be disappointed to know that it has not been such a fairytale - meeting me, and for this I will be eternally sorry. I hope you know guys spend more than enough time trying to come up with the perfect introduction, what with sweaty palms and a shaky voice. As to the extreme disappointment I may cause you, I also hope you know that you are still as perfect in my eyes as always. I may not have begun it as a fairytale for us, but I will go through leaps and bounds to make you feel like the princess that you are. Your eccentricities are what I love about you. Even during your occasional mood swings, it is the most endearing thing to see you shift gears. Although I must admit, sometimes it can be quite confusing; keeping me on my toes, it just makes me want to be with you even more. I want to be the man you stand beside at your best and your worst—because either way, you are still too beautiful, and I would be nothing less than the luckiest guy in town if you were just as happy as I was, standing beside you. You are and will always be my best friend, even if one day I end up finding no more shirts because you have borrowed them all. And when you return them I end up not wearing them, still, because the scent is there to remind me of you even when you are not around. You are my best friend because you look out for me, after a stressful day, or after we lose a game of basketball. Even during times when you refuse to speak to anyone, me included—you are still my best friend. You will be the girl I try so hard to cook for, and despite my best efforts I know I will fail, but I will love how you will try to taste my concoctions, even when the taste might make you cringe. You will be the girl whose mom I will try so hard to impress, and then you will fix my collar in hopes that I am ready to meet your parents. Adventure after adventure, you will be the girl I will see the world with, complete with the local cuisine taste and souvenir shots. You are the girl I will smile to even in the worst of times. Even when the day feels like s__t, I know that when I see you that my world cannot be so bad if you are beside me. You are the girl whose smile I will wake up to, even when some mornings might find me with a slight case of morning breath. I cannot wait to love you. Fingers crossed and palms held together, I hope one day you will find me worthy of your heart. In the meantime, know that I am out here somewhere, waiting for you, hoping that you will be mine. Loving you forever and a day,

-Me

I was completely overwhelmed by this and went to sleep that night with a smile on my face, knowing that there are many people out there who continue to hold steadfastly to the hope of finding not the perfect, but the right person for them. So to every heart out there that continues to hope to someday know what that feels like- here’s to allowing God to write our love stories. With much love and gratitude,

-Pia

So... what can you say?? ^^ I hope mine comes soon ;D... waiting for 19 years and still nothing... xD so any guys out there... please let your existence be known... haha :D

Story1: Pyramus and Thisbe

I fancied this story too myself...

PYRAMUS AND THISBE

Thisbe, by John William Waterhouse, 1909.

Ovid's version of Pyramus and Thisbe

Pyramus was the most handsomest youth, and Thisbe the loveliest maiden, of all the East lived in Babylon, where Semiramis reigned. Their parents occupied adjoining houses; and neighborhood brought the young people together, and acquaintance ripened into love. They longed to marry, but their parents forbade. One thing however they could not forbid — that love should glow with equal ardor in the bosoms of both. They conversed by signs and glances, and the fire burned more intensely for being covered up. In the wall that parted the two houses there was a crack, caused by some fault in the structure. No one had remarked it before, but the lovers discovered it. What will not love discover! It afforded a passage to the voice; and tender messages used to pass backward and forward through the gap. As they stood, Pyramus on this side, Thisbe on that, their breaths would mingle. “Cruel wall,” they said, “why do you keep two lovers apart? But we will not be ungrateful. We owe you, we confess, the privilege of transmitting loving words to willing ears.” Such words they uttered on different sides of the wall; and when night came and they must say farewell, they pressed their lips upon the wall, she on her side, he on his, as they could come no nearer.

Next morning, when Aurora had put out the stars, and the sun had melted the frost from the grass, they met at the accustomed spot. Then, after lamenting their hard fate, they agreed that next night, when all was still, they would slip away from watchful eyes, leave their dwellings and walk out into the fields; and to insure a meeting, repair to a well-known edifice, standing without the city’s bounds, called the Tomb of Ninus, and that the one who came first should await the other at the foot of a certain tree. It was a white mulberry tree, and stood near a cool spring. All was agreed on, and they waited impatiently for the sun to go down beneath the waters and night to rise up from them. Then cautiously Thisbe stole forth, unobserved by the family, her head covered with a veil, made her way to the monument and sat down under the tree. As she sat alone in the dim light of the evening she descried a lioness, her jaws reeking with recent slaughter, approaching the fountain to slake her thirst. Thisbe fled at the sight, and sought refuge in the hollow of a rock. As she fled she dropped her veil. The lioness, after drinking at the spring, turned to retreat to the woods, and seeing the veil on the ground, tossed and rent it with her bloody mouth.

Pyramus, having been delayed, now approached the place of meeting. He saw in the sand the footsteps of the lion, and the color fled from his cheeks at the sight. Presently he found the veil all rent and bloody. “O, hapless girl,” said he, “I have been the cause of thy death! Thou, more worthy of life than I, hast fallen the first victim. I will follow. I am the guilty cause, in tempting thee forth to a place of such peril, and not being myself on the spot to guard thee. Come forth, ye lions, from the rocks, and tear this guilty body with your teeth.” He took up the veil, carried it with him to the appointed tree, and covered it with kisses and with tears. “My blood also shall stain your texture,” said he, and drawing his sword plunged it into his chest. The blood spurted from the wound, and tinged the white mulberries of the tree all red; and sinking into the earth reached the roots, so that the red color mounted through the trunk to the fruit.

By this time, Thisbe, still trembling with fear, yet wishing not to disappoint her lover, stepped cautiously forth, looking anxiously for the youth, eager to tell him the danger she had escaped. When she came to the spot and saw the changed color of the mulberries she doubted whether it was the same place. While she hesitated she saw the form of one struggling in the agonies of death. She started back, a shudder ran through her frame as a ripple on the face of the still water when a sudden breeze sweeps over it. But as soon as she recognized her lover, she screamed and beat her breast; embracing the lifeless body, pouring tears into its wounds, and imprinting kisses on the cold lips. “O, Pyramus,” she cried, “what has done this? Answer me, Pyramus; it is your own Thisbe that speaks. Hear me, dearest, and lift that drooping head!” At the name of Thisbe, Pyramus opened his eyes, then closed them again. She saw her veil stained with blood and the scabbard empty of its sword. “Thy own hand has slain thee, and for my sake,” she said. “I too can be brave for once, and my love is as strong as thine. I will follow thee in death, for I have been the cause; and death, which alone could part us, shall not prevent my joining thee. And ye, unhappy parents of us both, deny us not our united request. As love and death have joined us, let one tomb contain us. And thou, tree, retain the marks of slaughter. Let thy berries still serve for memorials of our blood.” So saying, she plunged the sword into her breast. Her parents ratified her wish, the gods also ratified it. The two bodies were buried in one sepulchre, and the tree ever after brought forth purple berries, as it does to this day.

Romeo and Juliet

ROMEO AND JULIET

An 1870 oil painting by Ford Madox Brown

depicting Romeo and Juliet's famous balcony scene

This is an excerpt which I found from Wikipedia:

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young "star-cross'd lovers" whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet and Macbeth, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers.

Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562, and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1582. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but, to expand the plot, developed supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597. This text was of poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing it more in line with Shakespeare's original.

For me, I only learned about Romeo and Juliet when I was in second year highschool when I thought the story of "Florante and Laura" is a lame romantic story. (Anyway, its my own opinion... you can argue with it) and then, I saw the third years perform the play of Romeo and Juliet... and I was very intrigued. So what happened next??

I started researching about it, and even bought a book of it. I would even rehearse Juliet's lines and or, maybe even her nurse or her mother. (as long it is a female character) then, I'll voice act it out in different tones of speech. One speech that I like in particular was when Juliet was in her garden waiting for her nurse to come home after meeting up with Romeo. And then the weary nurse tells Juliet that Romeo had already arranged their marriage.

But...

What makes Romeo and Juliet a very good story?

Shakespeare must have some sources of inspiration. It is said that Romeo and Juliet borrows from a tradition of tragic love stories dating back to antiquity. One of these is Pyramus and Thisbe, from Ovid's Metamorphoses, which contains parallels to Shakespeare's story: the lovers' parents despise each other, and Pyramus falsely believes his lover Thisbe is dead. The Ephesiaca of Xenophon of Ephesus, written in the 3rd century, also contains several similarities to the play, including the separation of the lovers, and a potion that induces a deathlike sleep.

The story setting itself is dark, with only hatred which fills the atmosphere, but, against the black backdrop of the story, a light shines in the middle which I call love. It made me think, could love really exist in a world full of hate? love and hate are two completely opposite ideas, but the story of Romeo and Juliet weaves this two elements together, creating a bittersweet dramatic story.

Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in

Romeo and Juliet, 1968 film by Franco Zeffirelli

In every Romeo and Juliet story, I always noted four parts: the party scene, the balcony scene, the eloping scene and the suicide scene. If one of these four components is not present, I doubt it that the story is based on Romeo and Juliet. Even the stage adaptation entitled The West Side Story had the 4 elements. But ofcourse, the backdrop of the whole story is full of violence and hatred from one side to another, and that Romeo and Juliet defies all the rules. I also note that in the middle part of the story, a crime happens that will lead to the separation of the two lovers. (Who said Romeo and Juliet is only a romatic story? it could also be classified as a comedy, action, and tragedy) However, there was always a glimpse of hope that the two young lovers would eventually reunite and live happily ever after.

The 4 main parts:

1. The party scene- Usually it is a masked ball wherein one person from the opposite party suddenly comes uninvited. And then he/she (In Shakespeare's version, Romeo is the one who comes uninvited, while in the anime version, it was Juliet who comes uninvited). Then, they meet but they do not know each other's identity. They only learn about each other's identity after the encounter, which is said to be "too late" because they have already fallen in-love with each other.

2. The balcony scene- Romeo pursues Juliet, and follows or watches her in secret. Then, he'll over hear Juliet professing her love for the son of her family's enemy. She also swears that she should never be born as a Capulet so that she could freely love Romeo without any restrictions. Then, Romeo will suddenly respond to her, that he would forsake the name of Montague just to be with her. (sweet ^^)

3. The eloping scene- Most Romeo and Juliet plays and adaptations, make Romeo and Juliet wed in secret. (yup, that's true even in anime version). This scene follows shortly after the balcony scene, they meet, decided to leave everything behind and move forward as husband and wife. They defied everything, and got married... but something always happens, that they are separated again after their first night together (how sad.. T.T)

4. The suicide scene- In their desperation to be together again, they tried to fight their love for each other, which resulted Juliet to fake her death, and Romeo grieve on her death. With so much sadness, Romeo killed himself, and Juliet, upon waking and discovering the dead body of her lover, kills herself. The trend with this, is, the boy always die ahead. then the girl dies after. Seeing them die pains me, because both of them are so young for death to grab them, but then again, it is also sweet because of the statement "If we cannot live here peacefully, then perhaps in the other life"

After the series of sweet and unfortunate events, this is the Epilogue: With the death of the two "star-crossed lovers" the two parties who once feuded with each other, finally reconciled. (I think Shakespeare would like to stress that something good came out of their ill-fated tragedy)

Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as Maria and Tony

in "West Side Story" by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins in 1961.

ADAPTATIONS:

Since Romeo and Juliet is one of the most beloved Shakespearian play, it survived through various adaptations in movie, theater and now, even anime.

Unfortunately, I'll mention 3 of my favorite adaptations:

1. Romeo and Juliet by Franco Zeffirelli, 1968.

> I guess, this my first film I've ever watched about Romeo and Juliet. I was in my third year of high school when our teacher let us watched the movie. And for the first time, I saw nude. The film is very beautiful, that it retained in my head for weeks. I even borrowed a copy and re-watched it again at home. Every time I've watched it, it only sends butterflies to my stomach (for some unknown reason... maybe it is what you call the anxiety of being in-love with love)

>With my stupid obsession with it, I even started to rehearse Juliet's exact lines, borrowed a thick book from our library about Romeo and Juliet, tried to play "A time for us" in the piano, and a whole lot of stupid things... ^^ anyways, I would really like you all to watch this film, except some little warning regarding nudity and sex. (yup, I was kinda traumatized, I was 14 when I watched the whole film)

> here's a link on the film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdweOem_MBE

> I think Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting would always be my ideal image of Romeo and Juliet. Since they are both teenagers in this film, it makes the whole thing realistic. I really loved Olivia, she is so beautiful, and I once thought that Leonard is so handsome, until one day, somebody mentioned "OMG! Leonard looks like ZAC EFRON!!!!" I was like... What the---

2. The West Side Story, by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, 1961.

>To be honest, I am really an avid fan of musicals, thanks to my father who watch them so much that it influenced me. Although the main characters are named as Tony and Maria, the plot of the story is very similar to that of a classic Romeo and Juliet. Instead of Feuding families in Verona, the setting takes place in New York, wherein the two opposing sides (or gangs rather) are called the "Jets" (American gang) and the "Sharks" (Puertorican Gang). Tony is from the Jets, while Maria is from the Sharks.

> What made this film nice, was the Songs, the dance, the production... Everything!!! it really made me want to dance and sing at the same time. You'll be really impressed. And Just like Romeo and Juliet, their story is a desperate one, and Tony dies when he and Maria is about to elope in secret. (My relief is, Maria didn't kill herself when Chino kills Tony). Instead, Maria makes a speech, then the two gangs finally reconcile.

> Here's the link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA_aFprGzyc

>If there are really songs that I liked, it was when Tony sang "Maria" (It's so romantic, that i hope my name was Maria), when Tony and Maria sang "Tonight" (it is their alternative version for the balcony scene) and "Somewhere"

3. RomeoXJuliet by Gonzo, 2007

>I was glad, although kinda skeptical at first with the Romeo and Juliet version of the anime. I thought it would turn out to be so cheesy, but I am glad it is not. Although in the anime, the events that happened are opposite of Shakespeare's version. In here, Romeo's family plays a big part, and that Romeo's dad becomes the one of the antagonists of the story (which contradicts, the original story wherein it was Juliet's father who plays a big role). In here, Juliet is the one who unexpectedly enters the Montague household, and there, she met him.

>The character's names haven't changed much, but some additional characters are added and some of the character's personalities are changed from the original. In here, Romeo and Juliet are both fighters. (^^, something which I liked in the story)

>The setting in the anime is more of a fantasy setting, but, like what I've said, it has the 4 main parts of a classic Romeo and Juliet story. As stated: In the fantastical aeropolis of Neo Verona, the noble house of Capulet had ruled peacefully for generations - until fourteen years ago, when the ancient grudge held by the rival house of Montague led to a mutiny, and the Capulets were deposed and all wiped out in a bloody coup. Now, as Neo Verona suffers under the thrall of its new masters, the fates of two star crossed lovers are about to become tragically entwined... As the citizens of the city suffer, the Capulet clan struggles to strike a blow against their enemies, and the Montagues tighten their grasp on power, an unlikely love blossoms between Romeo and Juliet - but in the face of such adversity, this ill-fated love may be doomed from the outset. Triumph or tragedy; only fate knows what awaits Romeo and Juliet...

>Here's the link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rlcpVz1ez8

> I really adore this anime, even if it had a lot of changes from the original version of the play. It showed more character depth, and it shows that nobody is really perfect. I really would like you to watch it.

>I would like to share to you a music piece from RomeoXJuliet, it is entitled "Kimi no Iru Sekai", (I was listening to it while writing this post)

>I would really like to talk much about this one because it really very interesting and different. It is a different view of what we know is Romeo and Juliet. You'll really ask: why do they have to die?? or... If they haven't known each other then they'll not die... I even tried to draw my own version of RomeoxJuliet, and learned how to draw an Iris and a Rose intertwined with each other.

Romeo x Juliet released by Gonzo in 2007

"For never was a story of more woe,

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

-Prince Escalus